The Supreme Court is set to hear Rahul Gandhi's plea today, challenging the Gujarat High Court's order refusing to stay his conviction in a criminal defamation case. The case stems from a controversial remark made by Gandhi during the 2019 Lok Sabha campaign, in which he questioned the common surname shared by certain individuals involved in high-profile cases of alleged financial wrongdoing, such as Lalit Modi and Nirav Modi.

The Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Surat, had convicted and sentenced Gandhi to two years of imprisonment, leading to his disqualification as a Member of Parliament. However, the sentence was suspended, and he was granted bail on the same day to allow him to appeal against the conviction within 30 days.

On April 3, Gandhi approached the Surat Sessions Court, appealing his conviction and seeking a stay on the same. The Sessions Court granted him bail until the disposal of his appeal, but the request for a stay on the conviction was rejected on April 20.

Dismissing Gandhi's revision plea, the Gujarat High Court stated that the case pertains to a large identifiable community (the Modi Community) and not just an individual. This decision upheld the lower court's refusal to stay the conviction.

Gandhi's appeal has now reached the Supreme Court, where his legal team is hoping for a favorable ruling to overturn the conviction and subsequent disqualification as an MP. 

The hearing is expected to be closely watched by the public and political observers alike, as it involves prominent political figures and raises questions about freedom of speech and defamation laws in the country.

Updates on the case's developments and the Supreme Court's decision will be closely monitored, and further details will be reported as soon as they become available.

LIVE Updates from Supreme Court -

• Supreme Court stays Rahul Gandhi's conviction in the criminal defamation case over the 'Modi surname' remark.
• The conviction in the case had led to his disqualification as MP.
• When the maximum sentence is granted, reasoning is required too be given
• Singhvi: Thank you for an expeditious disposal. Only one word may be ad

•  The judge has not given consideration with regard to the constitutency shall not go unrepresented
• Bench Remarked - 'Trial judge has given maximum sentence provided under the statute'
• Judge has not given consideration with regard to the constitutency shall not go unrepresented
• DR. AM Singhvi that the complainant himself has admitted that the complainant himself has admitted in the cross examination that his surname is not Modi and the same has been adopted by him later on
• There should be mutual consent., said Court
• Consequences of the conviction - lost two sessions of parliament.
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